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Google Home Max: Should Audiophiles Spend $399 On This Smart Speaker?

October 15, 2017 by  
Filed under Opinion, Tech/Internet, Weekly Columns

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(ThyBlackMan.com) The Google Home Max features and specifications are detailed by Google and according to the company, the focus remains on sound for this product release. Without a doubt, Google could beat both Apple HomePod and Amazon Echo Plus with loud music. The technical specifications confirmed by the company reveal that Google’s Home Max is more powerful than the rivals from Apple and Amazon. But the question here is, should you spend $399 for a big-sized smart speaker by Google that claims to offer superior sound quality?

Let the data speak

Google Home Max Technical Specifications

The device by Google is a huge speaker that comes in 13.2 x 7.4 x 6-inch size. Google has added two 4.5-inch high-excursion woofers in its speaker and the device also comes equipped with two 0.7-inch tweeters. Both Apple HomePod and Amazon Echo Plus come with only one woofer and one tweeter, while Google Home Max come with two each. Does it make the Max better? In terms of sound quality and loudness, the Max is better than the two.

There’s more room for woofers and tweeter array in the Home Max and as a result, when you compare its size with HomePod and Echo Plus, it’s bigger than the both. Additionally, Google has confirmed support for USB-C, audio jack, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. The Echo Plus supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and ZigBee. Amazon’s speaker also supports 3.5mm jack. Apple has not revealed which ports the HomePod will support, but the company has made it clear that the device will support Wi-Fi only.

What’s extra?

Apart from better audio quality, nothing makes the Home Max stand out. The design, size, its compatibility with your interiors may look perfect, but what matters the most is getting something extra. An extra woofer and tweeter is something that can be brought in by simply buying a pair of Amazon Alexa Plus. However, the technical specifications of both Max and Plus are different, but having two Amazon Echo Plus speakers ($150 each) will not only give you better listening experience, it will also save you 100 dollars for which you can buy two Google Home Mini or Amazon Echo Dot units and in this way you can have a lot better music in each room.

Of course, Google has thought beyond this and most probably the Home Max users will be getting better third-party integration support than Apple HomePod users. The HomePod might be very limited because it comes from Apple and everyone knows how Apple puts limitations on its products, especially when it comes to third-party integrations. Apple’s HomeKit is no exception. We all know that a very limited number of manufacturers and developers are embracing the HomeKit because of hardware requirements for driver signing.

As far as third-party integration is concerned, Google’s biggest competitor is Amazon. Believe it or not but many manufacturers and developers prefer Alexa when it comes to integrating the voice assistance into their devices and applications.

Google rules the search realm and it is one of the biggest advantages the company has. For those seeking a service that helps them find web results quickly and more accurately, Google Home Max would be their best bet. But, the question still remains the same, if someone is willing to focus more on search results, why would they feel the urge to spend $399 on a smart speaker?

The best way to decide is to listen to the audio first. The device is scheduled to arrive in December, but before that, you’ll get to see many Google Home Max reviews. It’s better not to make any decision. Listen to the audio quality of Alexa Echo Plus which is coming later in October. Both Apple HomePod and Max speaker will arrive in the same month, so there’s plenty of time to get more information to make the right choice.

Staff Writer; Corey Shaw

Have any Tech Tips? News? Hit up our Tech Guru at; CoreyS@ThyBlackMan.com


Comments

One Response to “Google Home Max: Should Audiophiles Spend $399 On This Smart Speaker?”
  1. David Moore says:

    This is interesting. Google really came through this year. Still with that the price is kind of iffy.

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